不甲斐ない

• Reading: ふがいない
• Romaji: fugainai
• Kanji breakdown: 不 (fu) — negation; 甲斐 (gai) — worth, effect
• Pronunciation: /ɸɯɡainai/

Meaning

Pathetic; spineless; disappointing; falling short of what is expected of oneself.

An i-adjective expressing shame or self-reproach at failing to live up to one's own standards or others' expectations. It is often used in first-person self-criticism (不甲斐ない自分) or by those expressing disappointment in someone they care about. The tone is rueful rather than contemptuous.

Examples

1. こんな結果しか出せない自分が不甲斐なかった。 I felt pathetic for only being able to produce such poor results.
2. 子どもに心配をかけてしまい、不甲斐ない親だと痛感した。 Having caused my children to worry, I keenly felt what a disappointing parent I was.
3. あれほど練習したのに決勝で負けてしまい、不甲斐なさで胸が痛んだ。 Despite all that practice, losing in the finals left me with a painful sense of my own inadequacy.

Usage Guide

Context: self-reflection, sports, parenting, work

Tone: self-critical

Origin & History

Composed of 不 (not) and 甲斐 (worth, effect, result) plus the adjective ending ない. 甲斐 itself derives from 甲斐がある (to be worth doing, to be effective). The compound literally means without worth or effect — yielding no result commensurate with effort.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal